Obama reprises Carter-era White House solar power

President Jimmy Carter speaks against a backdrop of solar panels in 1979 at the White House. The panels were removed under Ronald Reagan, but the Obama administration is starting to install new panels.

Photo: Harvey Georges

Three years after the Obama administration pledged to put solar panels on the White House, workers on Thursday began installing the equipment on the president's home.

A White House official described the move as part of a broader energy retrofit, designed to boost overall efficiency inside the historic building.

Environmentalists, who first extracted the White House's commitment to go green in 2010, praised the move, saying it was better late than never.

"It's a good sign," said climate activist Bill McKibben, who founded the group 350.org. "Like many folks, they're starting close to home."

Former Energy Secretary Steven Chu had pledged the solar panels would be in place at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue by spring 2011. When that deadline came and went, administration officials blamed the competitive procurement process.

The U.S.-made solar panels being installed on the White House roof will convert sunlight directly into electricity to help power the Executive Mansion.

But this won't be the first time the White House has been powered by the sun. Former President Jimmy Carter first installed solar panels in the late 1970s, but they were removed seven years later during Ronald Reagan's administration.

It was not immediately clear whether the project will include a solar water heater that was part of the plans announced in 2010.

Some environmentalists said they hope the move is a preview of more substantive policy changes to come. In particular, activists want the Obama administration to reject a permit for TransCanada Corp.'s proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which they say would expand the marketplace for an oil-like hydrocarbon that is harvested in Alberta using more energy-intensive techniques than is used for conventional crudes.

"We will see if they really get the structural issues when the Keystone decision is announced," McKibben said.